02/05/23 We checkmated the Chinese. – Radically Rational

02/05/23 We checkmated the Chinese.

The Republican attack dogs who could not wait to tribally and prematurely sic Joe Biden for his measured response to Chinese Balloon-Gate have now proved they were bringing checkers thinking skills to a Grand Champion chess match.

Biden strategically lapped his domestic critics and checkmated the Chinese.

As we view it on Sunday morning, this was an unqualified United States victory. Our executive branch and our military leaders worked together to design and execute a rational plan that served America’s interests at every turn.

What a concept, right?

Biden issued an order to shoot down the balloon on Wednesday. His military advisors at the highest levels recommended that the United States wait until the balloon was over U.S. territorial waters before taking it out. The goal was to protect American citizens and property from damage caused by falling debris. The chosen timetable also gave the U.S. more time to fully expose the Chinese lie about the nature and purpose of that balloon. Our military was able to devise a plan to safely and precisely destroy the balloon. The timetable allowed us to pick the ideal time and place to eliminate the menace. That then gave us time to deploy our recovery assets and resources to the target area. Shooting it down over water provided a “softer” landing for the balloon technology. That will make it–while not easy—easier, at least, to recover the equipment and analyze its purpose, value and level of sophistication. The debris is in relatively shallow water of only 47 feet. This is a huge intelligence coup for our country.

The fact that we shot down the bogey within the U.S. territorial waters limit of 12 miles means that under international law, it is now our property.

Video of us pulling their shit out of our water will make a powerful and unmistakable international statement.

The Chinese are embarrassed and even humiliated. The Chinese don’t like being embarrassed and humiliated.

We won this one at every level. We should all acknowledge and applaud the cool competence our country displayed.

Cool competence. What a concept.

And the hydrophobic rabid dogs who brought checkers intellectual analysis to a world championship chess match should now put their mangy tails between their legs.

We checkmated the Chinese.

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I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.